GEOS 4322 The Earth System

Spring 2010
Dr. Richard Mitterer (972-883-2462; mitterer@utdallas.edu)

Outline of Topics Text Readings: The Earth System

Part 1: Earth Systems
Introduction; Matter and Energy Ch. 1
Solar Energy Ch. 3
Water Cycle Ch. 4
Oceans and Atmosphere Ch. 5
Carbon Cycle and Plate Tectonics Ch. 7 & 8
Oil: Source Rocks; Peak Oil Class discussion
Review
1st Exam – February 10

Part 2: The Biosphere

Terrestrial Systems and Aquatic Systems Ch. 9
Origin and Early Evolution of Life Ch. 10
Later Evolutionary Events Ch. 11 & 12
Daisyworld; Snowball Earth Ch. 2 & 12
Mass Extinctions Ch. 13
T. rex (Alvarez book) Class discussion
Review
2nd Exam – March 24

Part 3: Climate Change and Human Impacts

El Niño Ch. 15
Ozone Ch. 17
Past Climate Ch. 14
Historical Climate Ch. 16
Future Prospects Ch. 16
Global Warming Class discussion
Review
3rd Exam – May 3

COURSE GRADING

Grading for the course is based on three equal tests (no final exam), three projects, and pop quizzes; the
weighted value is 25% for each test, 15% for the projects, and 10% for the quizzes.
 REFERENCES

Textbook and Supplementary Readings

1. Recommended - The Earth System, 3rd edition, Kump, Kasting and Crane (Prentice Hall) (Note: 2nd
edition is ok.)

2. Required - T. Rex and the Crater of Doom, Alvarez (paperback, Vintage Books)

3. A short text (about 25 pages) on the history of the Biosphere is posted on the course web site.

Course Notes
Copies of PowerPoint presentations used throughout the course can be downloaded from the course web
site at: http://www.utdallas.edu/~mitterer/GlobalChange

NASA Web Site

NASA provides a weekly e-mail containing links to topics of course interest. The web address is:
http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov
Students are expected to access the site and participate in class discussions based on the postings.

PROJECT ASSIGNMENTS

1. Carbon Cycle Discussion (Due date: Feb. 8; 5% of grade. NOTE: This topic may be modified prior
to the first class.)
A copy of an old article and follow-up comments on “Carbon flux” from Wikipedia will be provided. This
article is no longer posted. Study the article and the comments and write your assessment of the report and
the comments as if you were posting a detailed reply. That is, are the comments reasonable and valid? Is
something wrong with the article, as suggested by some comments. Your discussion should be about one
full page.

2. Astronomical Cyclicity (Due date: March 31; 5% of grade)

The Earth's position with respect to the sun slowly oscillates periodically over a span of many thousands of
years. One of these periodicities involves the tilt or inclination of the Earth's axis of rotation. The Earth's
rotational axis is inclined to its orbital plane by about 23 1/2 degrees, but this inclination oscillates from
about 22 1/2 to 24 1/2 degrees, or about a 2-degree range. The latitudes from 23 1/2 North to 23 1/2 South
represent the portion of the Earth where the sun is directly overhead during some part of the year. The
northernmost position, 23 1/2 degrees North Latitude, is called the Tropic of Cancer and is reached on
about June 21, the Northern Hemisphere's longest day of sunshine. Because of the changing tilt of the
Earth's axis, the positions of the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn change over time.

Research question: How is the Earth's climate (especially regarding distribution of solar heat) affected by
the change in inclination of its axis? That is, compare the heat distribution (i.e., temperature ranges or
seasonality over the Earth) for an axial tilt of 22 1/2 degrees to the heat distribution when the tilt is 24 1/2
degrees. In your discussion, describe the significance of the axial tilt to Earth's overall climate and
seasonality, then consider how the climate or seasonality changes when the tilt increases and
decreases. Your discussion should be about one full page.

Finally, calculate how far and in which direction the Tropic of Cancer has moved over the last 100 years.

3. Carbon and Oxygen Isotopes and Climate (Due date: April 28; 5%)
Information on this project will be provided during the semester.